The spin Hall effect in two-dimensional hole systems

Dr Annette Plaut

We are investigating spintronic type phototransport effects in two-dimensional hole systems. Spintronics effects are interesting from the perspective of quantum computing. The photoinduced anomalous Hall effect is closely related to the spin Hall effect where, due to the passage of current, charge carriers with up and down spins migrate to opposite sides of the sample. In our case, due to the optically created polarisation of the hole spins, a Hall voltage can be measured, in the absence of a magnetic field, on passing a current across the sample. We would like to investigate this effect further in a number of different samples whilst varying the experimental conditions.

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